Pharmacy Practice Act Revision Proposal
(Note from Board staff - this is a document prepared by MPhA in 2012)
Background
The Pharmacy Practice Act has not had a full overhaul since 1937. Health Care is evolving rapidly, and pharmacy
has the opportunity to become integrated as a very key player. Unfortunately, the pharmacy practice act as
written in 1937 imposes barriers on the way in which we are able to practice pharmacy in Minnesota as
pharmacists.
Revisions Purpose
 maintain patient and consumer safety
 enable pharmacists to respond to consumer needs and market opportunities
 provide opportunities to fully participate in new multi-disciplinary delivery systems such as health
homes and ACOs
 allows pharmacists to share in both the risks and rewards of ACOs and health homes
 enhances the ability of the pharmacists to provide care where needed – inside or outside a pharmacy
 remove historical accretions that impede pharmacists’ innovation
Proposed Definitions
These are all amendments to statutes, which are legislatively harder to change than rules. They are open to
interpretation, which is regulated by rules. Rules can be more readily adapted to changing health care models.
We may or may not propose changes to the current rules at this time.
Practice of pharmacy means the practice in which a pharmacist accepts responsibility for a consumer’s
medicines-related needs, which may include but are not limited to:
1. The management of medication-related consumer needs, which may include
a. Modifying, initiating, and discontinuing medications
b. Order and collect of information to inform medication management
c. Document appropriately
2. The control, dispensing, preparation, and compounding of drugs or medicines
3. Collaboration with other practitioners in the management of the care of a consumer or patient
4. Administration of drugs or medicines
Collaborative Practice means a pharmacist and other practitioner(s) practicing together within the framework of
their respective professional scopes of practice. This collaborative agreement reflects both independent (E.g.,
adjust doses, order, prescribe) and cooperative decision-making and is based on the preparation and ability of
each participant.
The term pharmacy technician means a person not licensed as a pharmacist or a pharmacist intern who is
registered with the Board as a Technician, who assists a pharmacist and is accountable to a pharmacist. A
pharmacy technician shall not perform tasks specifically reserved to a licensed pharmacist or requiring
professional judgment of a pharmacist.
Pharmacy Practice Act Revision Timeline
November 1, 2012 – Members of steering committee have been identified for all communities of interest
November 1, 2012 – April 30, 2013 (6 months) – Revision of recommendations for modernization of MN Statues,
Chapter 151
May 31, 2013 –Proposal completed and agreed upon by all pharmacy communities of interest
June 1, 2013 – Begin drafting proposal
June 30, 2013 – Drafting completed
July 2013 – Seek support and recommendations from Board of Pharmacy
September 2013 – Seek support and recommendations from Medicine and Nursing
September, early October 2013 – Modify draft to include concerns of Board of Pharmacy, Medicine and Nursing
and complete drafting of Bill
October 2013 – Begin looking for authors for the Bill who largely agree with drafted proposal
December 2013 – Authors for the Bill have been identified in both houses
January 2014 – Completed Bill is ready for proposal to legislation, with full support from pharmacy and
pharmacy organizations and support from medicine and nursing
Enabling Pharmacists To Respond To The Health Needs Of Minnesota Communities: Recommendations for the
modernization of MN Statutes Chapter 151 can be found at:
http://www.pharmacy.umn.edu/clhc/